Premier Colin Barnett said he tried to persuade Christian Porter not to leave state politics but ultimately respected his career-driven decision.

The loss had left "a hole" in Cabinet, with the Premier taking on the role of Treasurer and experienced Upper House MP Norman Moore appointed Justice Minister as a "temporary measure" likely to last two weeks.

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Mr Barnett said he was "disappointed" to lose Mr Porter but he respected his choice.

"It's not selfish, people have a right to pursue their career and pursue their interest," Mr Barnett said.

"My only disappointment is Christian hasn't done what I would have liked, which is another term in state politics and then move over to the federal scene."

Flying WA's flag in Canberra

Mr Porter this morning said he had grappled with the decision to switch to federal politics for months but believed he could make a better contribution in Canberra.

Following his shock resignation, the Treasurer and Attorney-General immediately moved to the backbench.

He will remain Member for Bateman until the state election but has sought pre-selection for the federal seat of Pearce.

Mr Porter said while some colleagues believed he was making the wrong decision he did not necessarily share expectations that he would become the next premier.

"Some people ultimately will understand why I've made this decision, other people will find it a difficult decision to understand," he said.

"There were a range of expectations about what my career might look like which were assumptions about the future, assumptions I didn't necessarily hold, and I've got to say ... I never did anything to fuel those expectations publicly or privately.

"You've got to be absolutely certain that you're living your own version of your career and not someone's expected version."

Mr Porter conceded his decision was based on a personal career ambition, as well as a belief he could better serve WA at a federal level.

"I've come to a view that I cannot shake now that I can make a contribution to the advancement of a number of very important issues, issues that I've come to feel incredibly strongly about and issues which I think are absolutely critical to the state of WA and to the entire country," he said.

"And I have formed the view that my greatest chance of making any kind of impact with respect to those issues is in a Federal Parliament setting."

Abbott welcomes Porter

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said he would welcome Mr Porter's move to federal politics, saying he had been outstanding in his state role.

''I would welcome Christian Porter in Canberra,'' Mr Abbott said.

''I think he has a fine contribution to make to our team in Canberra.''

Mr Abbott wouldn't say if he would give Mr Porter a position on his frontbench, or who would have to stand aside from his cabinet to make way for him.

Resignation is 'disrepectful to parliamentary process'

Opposition leader Mark McGowan criticised Mr Porter's immediate resignation from his portfolios while the budget was still befor parliament.

"That is showing a major disrespect to the parliamentary process, to the state's finances, to the future of WA," Mr McGowan said.

"The state's finances are more important than any single person's ambition.

"Mr Porter could have quite easily stayed around in his portfolio to the election ... and save all the turmoil."

Energy Minister Peter Collier said it was the wrong choice but Nationals leader Brendon Grylls was supportive.

Mr Grylls said Mr Porter, a personal friend, would stand up for WA in Canberra.

"For a long time WA has been carrying the can for rest of the nation. Christian Porter will be a passionate advocate for that and he'll have my 100 per cent support to be one a very strong representative for WA in Canberra," Mr Grylls said.

"I think in his role as treasurer he has been WA's representative at those tables. He's been addressing what both Christian, the Premier and myself have said is WA's greatest challenge: that is, getting a fair share of the pie in Canberra.

"He's taking a risk. Good on him, I wish there were more MPs like him."

Planning Minister John Day said there was now "a big hole" to fill in government but would not comment on whether Mr Porter had put personal ambition before the party.

"Politics is an uncertain business, you've got to take opportunities as they arise," he said.

"I wish Christian well. We'll certainly muss him from the state arena, I think he would have gone a long way further in the state arena if he chose to stay but he's got to make his decision as he sees it."

"One of the things that worries me is the lack of talent in Australian politics and as much as we like talent [to be] in WA politics, it's more important to have talent in federal politics," he said.

Premier Colin Barnett, who has taken on the role of Treasurer as a "temporary measure", said he did not sense any anger from the other MPs following Mr Porter's resignation.

"I think there was a sense of surprise and perhaps, like me, disappointment because Christian was a key member of government", he said.

Mr Barnett said Mr Porter raised the idea with him a few months ago and he made a firm decision last week.

He said he never discussed succession with Mr Porter and he hoped to remain Premier for several more years.

He did not believe Mr Porter's resignation was based on a belief they would not win the next election, nor were there any conflicts between the pair.

"What Christian has done is follow his career ambition," Mr Barnett said.

"It was his choice, it was a personal choice, he's taken that opportunity as it comes.

"He's also done it in the most appropriate way."

The temporary portfolio changes would remain until at least the end of next week, when parliament breaks for the winter recess. Mr Barnett said he had not given thought to who would take on the roles permanently.

However, Troy Buswell is the most likely candidate to take on at least the treasury portfolio. He lost the role - and unofficial standing as the next premier - in April 2010 amid allegations he misused ministerial allowances.

Mr Buswell has the economic credentials required of the portfolio but whether the public holds a grudge over his colourful and occasionally controversial antics remains to be seen.

Porter's move 'could harm re-election'

Mr Porter has particularly fought hard for reform of the Goods and Services Tax.

He hoped his colleagues would recognise his good work for the state government and not "begrudge" him the opportunity to attempt federal politics.

Mr Porter rejected suggestions his resignation would have a detrimental effect on the government's chances of re-election.

"What makes this decision for me so personally difficult is that I think this has been a good government. It will continue to be a good government," he said.

Mr Porter said he only discussed his decision with his wife and Premier Colin Barnett, who had tried to talk him out of leaving state politics.

"In the end he advised me to trust my instincts and if I thought it was important personally to do that - that I would likely regret not doing it - [then do it]," he said.

"He has been unbelievably generous and supportive. Whilst he might have hoped for a different outcome he's been amazing."

Doubling as the Attorney-General, Mr Porter is considered one of the government's strongest MPs and will leave a large hole in capabilities.

Political analyst Harry Phillips said the loss of Mr Porter would be so great it could impact on the Liberal-National Coalition's chances of winning the March state election.

"Polls have suggested that the alliance is generally favoured to win the next election at this stage but of course Christian Porter as Treasurer and Attorney-General is regarded as one of the strongest and most capable members of that Coalition to the extent that if he's away, at least in the first instance, the team will be weakened," Curtin University's Professor Phillips said.

"[Premier] Colin Barnett may be able to restructure his ministry and sometimes this can happen and people given opportunities immediately perform well. But Treasury and Attorney-General are key posts in anybody's language and to lose such an intellectually capable person like Christian Porter is a setback.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said West Australians should be concerned if Mr Buswell is made Treasurer, which would indicate he would succeed Mr Barnett as Premier.

The resignation had left the state government in a grind in the middle of finalising Mr Porter's second state budget.

"To have the Treasurer leave whilst a budget is still going through the Parliament is very unusual and sends a message to investors in the state and the broader community that all is not well," Mr McGowan said.

"I think it's a very strange and damaging course of events for the state.

"I think it shows the government is in disarray and turmoil because you can't lose the most senior minister - and from both the portfolios - and then expect to continue on business as usual.

"He's let the portfolio down and he's let the State Parliament down to a degree."

Porter likely to run for Pearce

Mr Porter, who won the seat of Bateman at the 2008 election after entering politics months earlier at a by-election, is expected to win pre-selection for the federal seat of Pearce, which covers outer eastern Perth suburbs and surrounding rural areas including Toodyay, Mundaring and parts of the Swan Valley.

The seat has been held by Liberal Judi Moylan, who is retiring, since 1993. She presently has a majority of 8.9 per cent.

Professor Phillips said it was not unusual for a state minister or premier to switch to the federal sphere and Mr Porter probably sounded out his federal colleagues before making the leap.

He would likely be immediately elevated to a federal portfolio if the Coalition won the next election, expected by October next year.

"My belief at this stage is that he would be an immediate federal minister," Professor Phillips said.

"It's probably too much to expect being [immediately] granted Attorney-General or Treasurer but he would certainly be a candidate for any one of the range of portfolios that would utilise those two brackets of expertise.

"Winning the federal seat could be just totally expected and his strong stance on the GST in WA will only further enhance him winning the Pearce seat."

His state colleagues are reportedly unimpressed at the shock resignation, which some view as selfish.

12 comments so far

Perfect fit for the Coalition. He promises everything, blames everyone else and, in the end, achieves nothing at all. Almost an Abbott clone.

Commenter

Arepoliticiansanimal,plant,mineral?

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 12, 2012, 3:35PM

So why are we even in the federation?

Commenter

liz

Location

perth

Date and time

June 12, 2012, 4:11PM

LIZ until recent times WA was supported with tax money from over east – Don’t listen to winging Barnett - These days when you see a big infrastructure project and check up about it ,most of the time most of the money is coming from Federal Government but Barnett is always announcing grand projects but don’t see them in Budget allocations ,I just wonder what he does with all the money ,I know about his new Super ,luxury ,super expensive new office. The way the State governments have been performing over recent years we should just be Australia and do away with state governments -would save billions

Commenter

RonaldR

Location

Cockburn Central

Date and time

June 12, 2012, 5:55PM

I have no idea why WA is in the Federation either? I think it would be so much better off leaving Australia and forming its own country with a new name. Then Mr Barnett can continue to deal directly with Asia. Then WA can keep 100% of its GST raisings. Then WA can get its own citizens to work for resource companies. The way things are now, is not sustainable.

Commenter

Julie

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 12, 2012, 10:26PM

Does that mean all the other WA liberal MP's in federal government are standing up for some other state?

What an arrogant little twerp.

Commenter

Marilyn

Date and time

June 12, 2012, 5:10PM

@liz - Mmmmh. I still think we are one country with too many States/Territories (Plus there is not one single State/Territory that could go it on its own without falling into a heap without the support of the others). But then, that is only my humble opinion.

Commenter

Arepoliticiansanimal,plant,mineral?

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 12, 2012, 5:25PM

Porter take Barnett with you Please Please Please we are begging you.

Commenter

RonaldR

Location

Cockburn Central

Date and time

June 12, 2012, 5:56PM

"Colleagues morn loss..." ???He died??

Commenter

Ken

Date and time

June 12, 2012, 6:53PM

Brendon Grylls: "For a long time WA has been carrying the can for rest of the nation."

Someone should remind Mr Grylls that WA was a major recipient of Commonwealth funds through the national evening-out process for nine decades or more. While there is room for debate around the details of fiscal equalisation measures, the principle should be accepted by all.

When mineral prices fall, as is inevitable eventually, I hope Mr Grylls doesn't go moaning about how difficult it is for WA to afford to provide services due to its wide open spaces. Quotes like his current one will be tossed back in his face.

Commenter

Greg Platt

Location

Brunswick

Date and time

June 12, 2012, 6:56PM

Grylls is just a rat jumping ship. the sooner we get rid of these muppets the better.